Apparatus for sorting elongated articles

ABSTRACT

Elongated articles, such as stud bolts, are conveyed in endwise relationship along a chute to a point of use. A fixed stop is engageable by articles within the chute. A pair of spaced airjet detectors are longitudinally spaced in the bottom of the chute and positioned at predetermined distances from each other and from the stop. When an article engages the stop, at least one or none of the airjet detectors will be covered depending on the position of the article in the chute. The detectors are connected to a pneumatic signal circuit which generates signals in response to the position of an article with respect to the said detectors.

United States Patent 1 Becker Feb. 13, 1973 APPARATUS FOR SORTING [21]App1.No.: 68,668 [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 3, 1969Germany ..P 19 44 675.4

[52] US. Cl. ..l93/40, 209/80, 221/157, 198/33 R [51] Int. Cl. ..B65g11/00, B23q 7/12 [58] 0 Field ofSearch......221/157,158, 159,160,161,221/162; 193/40; 198/33; 209/80, 81, 82;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,651,412 9/1953 Aller..209/82 Primary ExaminerEvon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-H. S. LaneAttorney-Edmund M. Jaskiewicz [5 7 ABSTRACT Elongated articles, such asstud bolts, are conveyed in endwise relationship along a chute to apoint of use. A fixed stop is engageable by articles within the chute. Apair of spaced airjet detectors are longitudinally spaced in the bottomof the chute and positioned at predetermined distances from each otherand from the stop. When an article engages the stop, at least one ornone of the airjet detectors will be covered depending on the positionof the article in the chute. The detectors are connected to a pneumaticsignal circuit which generates signals in response to the position of anarticle with respect to the said detectors.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEBU ms 3.716.123

SHEETlUFZ 7 z /5 2 "Ill" 7 EINAEN RUGGLF flaw ATTORNEY PATENTEDFEB13:975 3,716,123 SHEET 2 BF 2 FIG. 3

INVENTW RUDOLF BECK ER ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR SORTING ELONGATED ARTICLESThe present invention relates to the sorting of elongated articlesconveyed in a chute, more particularly, to such an apparatus employingairjet detectors in the chute to sense the position and externallongitudinal dimensions of each article and to generate pneumaticsignals in response thereto.

In many manufacturing operations different forms of elongated articles,such as stud bolts, are required. Such bolts are generally conveyed tothe point of use by a conveyor chute or similar transportingarrangement. Such stud bolts or similar elongated articles arecharacterized by a cylindrical or polygonal central portion and endportions having reduced diameters with or without threads. The threadedportions in certain forms of stud bolts may be of different lengths. Aparticular manufacturing operation may require that the longerthreadedportions, or perhaps the shorter-threaded portions, of the stud boltsare to be used. It is therefore desired that the stud bolts be conveyedto the point of use with a particular threaded end being initiallypresented. Various forms of sensing and sorting apparatus have beendevised to detect the position of such stud bolts as they are conveyedalong a chute, and even to detect the external dimensions of the boltsso that longer or shorter bolts are rejected. However, such prior knownsorting apparatus has not been generally successful since the sortingstructure was extremely complicated and hence relatively expensive toconstruct. Because of the complicated and expensive nature of thesorting structure, in many manufacturing plants, the bolts were sortedmanually.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to providea novel and improved device for sorting elongated articles according toposition and/or their external longitudinal dimensions.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatusfor sorting elongated articles which is relatively simple in structure,reliable in operation, and can be quickly and easily adjusted forsorting according to various standards.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed anapparatus for sorting elongated articles, particularly those articleshaving a cylindrical or polygonal central portion and end portions ofreduced diameters where the articles are to be fed in a predeterminedposition to a point of use. The apparatus may comprise a conveyer chutewhich has two airjet detectors longitudinally spaced along the chute andopening into the bottom thereof. A stationary stop is provided which isengageable with an article in the chute. The airjet detectors arepositioned at predetermined distances with respect to each other and tothe stationary stop. Means which may comprise a pneumatic signal circuitare connected to the airjet detectors for generating pneumatic signalsin response to the position or external longitudinal dimensions of anarticle positioned against the stop and covering at least one or none ofthe detectors. The adjusting of the distances of the airjet detectorsmay be simply carried out by providing a slot in the bottom of the chuteand displaceably mounting the airjet detectors within the slot.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentupon reference to the accompanying description when taken in conjunctionwith the following drawings, which are exemplary, wherein;

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a stud bolt which is to be sortedin the conveyor chute and positioned against a fixed stop with thebottom of the chute being shown in section;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 but shows the same stud boltin a different position; and

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of the pneumatic signal system employed inthe invention disclosed herein.

Proceeding next to the drawings wherein like reference symbols indicatethe same parts throughout the various views, a specific embodiment ofthe present invention will be described in detail. 1

As may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a chute 1 is provided for conveying theelongated articles to be sorted in end-to-end relationship to a point ofuse. A stationary stop 2 projects into the conveyor chute 1 so as to beengageable by a conveyed article. In the present embodiment of theinvention, the article to be sorted comprises a stud bolt 3 having acylindrical central portion 4 and threaded end portions 5 and 6 whichare of reduced diameter with respect to the central portion and ofdifferent lengths. The cross section configuration of the chute 1conforms to the central portion 4 of the stud bolt 3.

The bottom of the conveyor chute 1 is indicated at 7 and is providedwith airjet detectors 8 and 9 which are positioned at certainpredetermined distances with respect to each other and with respect tothe stop 2. The chute 1 including its bottom 7 is so shaped with respectto the outline of the bolt central portion 4 and the bolt 3 is guided inthe conveyor chute in such a manner that the bolt central portion 4 iscapable of covering the opening of one of the two airjet detectors 8 and9.

In FIG. 1, the stud bolt 3 has its longer end portion 5 abutting againstthe stop 2. In this position, the airjet detector 8 is covered by thecentral portion 4. In FIG. 2, the same stud bolt 3 has its shorter endportion 6 abutting against the stop 2 so that its central portion 4 nowcovers only the opening of airjet detector 9. The pneumatic signalcircuit which is disclosed in FIG. 3 and which is to be presentlydescribed, has pneumatic logic elements connected to the airjetdetectors so as to generate a pulse or signal corresponding to theposition of stud bolt 3 as shown in FIG. 1 and 2. Corresponding signalpulses are also generated when no stud bolt is present in the conveyorchute or when both or none of the airjet detectors are covered by anarticle which may be a bolt of a different size is positioned in theshoot.

The pneumatic signal circuit in FIG. 3 comprises lines 10 and 1]connecting airjet detectors 8 and 9 to control inputs 12 and 13 to theOR/NOR elements 14 and 14'. The OR/NOR element 14 has a stable output 15which is connected through lines 16 and 17 to inputs 18 and 19respectively of two AND elements 20 and 21. The other or unstable output22 of the OR/NOR element 14 is connected by lines 23 and 24 to inputs 25and 26 of two additional AND elements 27 and 28 respectively.

In a similar manner, the OR/NOR element 14' has a stable output 34 whichis connected by lines 30 and 31 to inputs 32 and 33 of AND elements 21and 27 respectively. The other or unstable output 29 of the OR/NORelement 14 is connected over lines 35 and 36 to inputs 37 and 38respectively of the AND elements 20 and 28.

The AND elements 21 and 28 have outputs 40 and 39 respectively which areconnected by lines 41 and 42 to parallel control inputs 43 and 44 of afurther OR/NOR element 45. The OR/NOR elements 14, 14' and 45 aresupplied with air under pressure from a supply line 46 having branches47, 48, and 49, leading to the respective elements.

When both airjet detectors 8 and 9 are not covered, air will flow fromthe detectors over lines 10 and 11. In addition, air will flow from theoutlets and 34 of OR/NOR elements 14 and 14' over lines 17, 31 and 30with these flows appearing simultaneously on the AND element 21. As aresult, airflow will emerge at the output 40 of the AND element 21 andwill be supplied over line 41 to the control input 43 of the OR/NORelement 45. In response, the OR/NOR element 45 will be switched from itsstable position where air is discharged at an output 51. The dischargeof air at output 51 may be used to generate a signal pulse whichindicates the absence of an article to be sorted, or that none of theairjet detectors 8 and 9 are covered by the central portion of anarticle which may be in the sorting position against the stop 2.

When both airjet detectors 8 and 9 are covered, the OR/NOR elements 14and 14' switch from their stable positions with air being discharged atoutputs l5 and 34 into their unstable positions with airflow occurringat outputs 22 and 29. The elements 14 and 14' will remain in thesepositions only during that time that the corresponding airjet detectorsare covered.

If only the airjet detector 8 is covered, simultaneous air pulses willappear at the inputs 25 and 33 of AND element 27. As a result, apneumatic pulse will emerge at output 48 of the AND element 27 with thispulse indicating a stud bolt position as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Should only the airjet detector 9 be covered, simultaneous airflows willappear only at the inputs l8 and 37 of AND element and will thusgenerate an output signal at an output 49 which signal indicates that astud bolt is positioned as shown in FIG. 2.

If both airjet detectors 8 and 9 are covered simultaneously, the twoOR/NOR elements 14 and 14' will be in their unstable positions asdescribed above where air pulses will emerge at outputs 22 and 29. As aresult, simultaneous air pulses will appear only at the two inputs 26and 38 of AND element 28 and a pulse will be generated at output 39.

The air pulse from output 39 flows over line 42 to the control input 44of the OR/NOR element 45 so that this element is switched to itsunstable position where an output pulse is generated at output 51. Thus,the OR/NOR element 45 responds in the same manner as though an air pulseappeared at control input 43 because both airjet detectors 8 and 9 werenot covered. The outputs 48 and 49 of the AND elements 27 and 20 as wellas output 51 of the OR/NOR element 45 are connected in a known manner topulse amplifiers for triggering known switching or indicating devices.

The airjet detectors 8 and 9 may be adjusted with respect to each otherand with respect to the stop 2 by structures indicated schematically at52 and 53. To accomodate this adjustability feature of the airjetdetectors, the lines 10 and 11 may be flexible and comprise flexibletubing or the like.

Thus it can be seen that the present invention has disclosed a simpleyet effective apparatus for sorting elongated articles such as studbolts and the like wherein pneumatic signals are generated in responseto the position and/or dimensions of the article being tested. Specificpneumatic signals are generated in response to the endwise positioningof the elongated article, in response to the absence of an article inthe testing position, or the presence of an article whose dimensions donot conform to the existing test standards. The generated signals may beused to actuate known forms of apparatus for removing those elongatedarticles which do not conform to the standards. For example, if a studbolt is improperly positioned, it can be removed from the conveyorchute. In the event a bolt of improper size or dimensions is conveyed inthe chute, this bolt also can be removed by a mechanism actuated inresponse to the generated pneumatic signals. The sorting apparatus isnot only suitable for use in sorting stud bolts but other elongatedarticles including bolts of various sizes and dimensions, fastnerelements and structural components which may be conveyed along a chute.

It is understood that this invention is susceptible to modification inorder to adapt it to the different usages and conditions, and,accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such. modifications within theinvention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for sorting elongated articles having a cylindricalor polygonal central portion and threaded end portions of reduceddiameter and unequal length where the articles are to be fed in apredetermined end position to a point of use, the combination of a chutereceiving the articles in endwise relation, two airjet detectorslongitudinally spaced along said chute and opening into the bottomthereof, a stop engageable by an article in said chute, said airjetdetectors being positioned at predetermined distances with respect toeach other and to said stop such that one detector senses thecylindrical portion of the article when properly positioned and theother detector sensing said cylindrical portion when improperlypositioned and control means connected to said airjet detectors forreleasing pneumatic signals in response to an article positioned againstsaid stop, said improperly positioned article being ejected in responseto said last mentioned sensing.

2. In an apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and comprising means foradjusting the distances of said detectors with respect to each other andto said stop.

3. In an apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein there is a slot in thebottom of said chute and said detectors are displaceable therein.

4. In an apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pneumatic signalmeans comprises first and second OR/NOR elements having control inputsrespectively connected at all times to said airjet detectors, each ofsaid OR/NOR elements having a stable and an unstable output, first andsecond AND elements having first inputs connected to the stable outputof said first OR/NOR element, third and fourth AND elements having firstinputs connected to the unstable output of said first OR/NOR element,said first and second AND elements having second inputs connected to thestable output of said second OR/NOR element, said third and fourth ANDelements having second inputs connected to the unstable output of saidsecond OR/NOR element, and a third OR/NOR element having first andsecond parallel control inputs connected to the outputs of said secondand fourth AND elements.

1. In an apparatus for sorting elongated articles having a cylindricalor polygonal central portion and threaded end portions of reduceddiameter and unequal length where the articles are to be fed in apredetermined end position to a point of use, the combination of a chutereceiving the articles in endwise relation, two airjet detectorslongitudinally spaced along said chute and opening into the bottomthereof, a stop engageable by an article in said chute, said airjetdetectors being positioned at predetermined distances with respect toeach other and to said stop such that one detector senses thecylindrical portion of the article when properly positioned and theother detector sensing said cylindrical portion when improperlypositioned and control means connected to said airjet detectors forreleasing pneumatic signals in response to an article positioned againstsaid stop, said improperly positioned article being ejected in responseto said last mentioned sensing.
 1. In an apparatus for sorting elongatedarticles having a cylindrical or polygonal central portion and threadedend portions of reduced diameter and unequal length where the articlesare to be fed in a predetermined end position to a point of use, thecombination of a chute receiving the articles in endwise relation, twoairjet detectors longitudinally spaced along said chute and opening intothe bottom thereof, a stop engageable by an article in said chute, saidairjet detectors being positioned at predetermined distances withrespect to each other and to said stop such that one detector senses thecylindrical portion of the article when properly positioned and theother detector sensing said cylindrical portion when improperlypositioned and control means connected to said airjet detectors forreleasing pneumatic signals in response to an article positioned againstsaid stop, said improperly positioned article being ejected in responseto said last mentioned sensing.
 2. In an apparatus as claimed in claim1, and comprising means for adjusting the distances of said detectorswith respect to each other and to said stop.
 3. In an apparatus asclaimed in claim 2, wherein there is a slot in the bottom of said chuteand said detectors are displaceable therein.